刺绣

• Pinyin: cì xiù
• Hanzi breakdown: 刺 = 朿 + 刂 (to pierce); 绣 = 纟(silk) + 秀 (beautiful, to embroider)

Meaning

Embroidery; to embroider. The art of decorating fabric with needle and thread, or the act of creating such work.

A traditional Chinese craft with famous regional styles like 苏绣 (Suzhou), 湘绣 (Hunan), 蜀绣 (Sichuan), and 粤绣 (Cantonese). Used as both noun (embroidered work) and verb (to embroider).

Examples

1. 这件旗袍上的刺绣全是手工完成的，花了绣娘三个月时间。 The embroidery on this qipao is entirely handmade — it took the embroiderer three months to complete.
2. 苏州的刺绣工艺精湛，被列入国家非物质文化遗产名录。 Suzhou's embroidery craftsmanship is exquisite and has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.
3. 奶奶年轻时学过刺绣，现在还能给我们绣些小玩意儿。 Grandma learned embroidery when she was young and can still embroider small trinkets for us.

Usage Guide

Context: crafts, traditional art, fashion

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 这幅刺绣作品栩栩如生。(This embroidery work is incredibly lifelike.)
• 她正在学习刺绣。(She is learning embroidery.)

Don't Say

• 我用刺绣画了一幅油画 (刺绣 is needlework on fabric, not painting — different art forms)

Origin & History

Compound of 刺 (to pierce, poke) + 绣 (to embroider). The 刺 describes the needle's piercing motion through fabric.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal